Pollen nutrition structures bee and plant community interactions

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(3)

Published: Jan. 8, 2024

As bees’ main source of protein and lipids, pollen is critical for their development, reproduction, health. Plant species vary considerably in the macronutrient content pollen, research bee model systems has established that this variation both modulates performance guides floral choice. Yet, how chemistry shapes interactions between plants bees natural communities an open question, essential understanding nutritional dynamics plant–pollinator mutualisms informing conservation. To fill gap, we asked nutrition (relative lipid content) sampled from 109 co-flowering plant structured visitation patterns observed among 75 subgenera pollen-collecting Great Basin/Eastern Sierra region (USA). We found degree similarity species’ predicted visitor communities, even after accounting morphology phylogeny. Consideration also shed light on structure interaction network: Bee genera were arranged into distinct, interconnected groups, delineated by differences values, revealing potential niches. Importantly, alone (high protein, high lipid, or balanced) did not predict diversity visitors, indicating offering complementary may be equally valuable supporting diversity. Nutritional should thus a key consideration when selecting habitat restoration, nutritionally explicit perspective needed considering reward involved community ecology pollination.

Language: Английский

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How wild bees find a way in European cities: Pollen metabarcoding unravels multiple feeding strategies and their effects on distribution patterns in four wild bee species

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 59(2), P. 457 - 470

Published: Oct. 19, 2021

Abstract Urban ecosystems can sustain populations of wild bees, partly because their rich native and exotic floral resources. A better understanding the urban bee diet, particularly at larval stage, is necessary to understand biotic interactions feeding behaviour in ecosystems, promote bees by improving management We investigated diet distribution patterns four solitary species with different specialization (i.e. Chelostoma florisomne , Osmia bicornis cornuta Hylaeus communis ) along intensity gradients five European cities (Antwerp, Paris, Poznan, Tartu Zurich) using two complementary analyses. Specifically, trap‐nests pollen metabarcoding techniques, we characterized species' assessed consistency across modelled models (SDMs). Our results demonstrate that display successful strategies exploit existing resources: not only broad generalism H. but also intermediate generalism, some degree conservatism plant family or genus level O. ), even strict on widely available hosts C. ). Furthermore, detected important variation a switch from an herbaceous tree increasing intensity. Species modelling indicated ranges inside ultimately depend specialization, broader diets result less sensitivity Policy implications . Satisfying dietary requirements critical preserving enhancing distributions within gradients. For high levels found considerable preferred families genera studied cities, which could be generalized other where these occur. Identifying preferences (e.g. metabarcoding) helpful for identifying key taxa traits survival develop bee‐friendly cities.

Language: Английский

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Plants, pollinators and their interactions under global ecological change: The role of pollen DNA metabarcoding

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(23), P. 6345 - 6362

Published: Sept. 10, 2022

Abstract Anthropogenic activities are triggering global changes in the environment, causing entire communities of plants, pollinators and their interactions to restructure, ultimately leading species declines. To understand mechanisms behind community shifts declines, as well monitoring managing impacts, a effort must be made characterize plant–pollinator detail, across different habitat types, latitudes, elevations, levels types disturbances. Generating data this scale will only feasible with rapid, high‐throughput methods. Pollen DNA metabarcoding provides advantages throughput, efficiency taxonomic resolution over traditional methods, such microscopic pollen identification visual observation interactions. This makes it ideal for understanding complex ecological networks responses change. is currently being applied assess interactions, survey ecosystem change model spatiotemporal distribution allergenic pollen. Where samples available from past collections, has been used compare contemporary ecosystems. New avenues research possible expansion intraspecific identification, analysis ancient samples, increased use museum herbarium specimens. Ongoing developments sequencing technologies can accelerate progress towards these goals. Global happening rapidly, we anticipate that methods critical evolutionary processes support biodiversity, predicting responding impacts

Language: Английский

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Diets maintained in a changing world: Does land‐use intensification alter wild bee communities by selecting for flexible generalists?

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(5)

Published: May 1, 2022

Biodiversity loss, as often found in intensively managed agricultural landscapes, correlates with reduced ecosystem functioning, for example, pollination by insects, and altered plant composition, diversity, abundance. But how does this change floral resource diversity composition relate to occurrence use patterns of trap-nesting solitary bees? To better understand the impact land-use intensification on communities bees grasslands, we investigated their pollen foraging, reproductive fitness, nutritional quality larval food along a intensity gradient Germany. We bee species decrease increasing irrespective region-specific community compositions interaction networks. Land also strongly affected collected bees. Lack suitable sources likely explains absence several at sites high intensity. The only present throughout, Osmia bicornis (red mason bee), foraged largely different across sites. In doing so, it maintained relatively stable, albeit variable diets (i.e., protein lipid (P:L) ratio). observed changes bee-plant indicate that flexible generalists, such O. bicornis, may be able compensate strong alterations landscapes obtain sufficient through readily shifting alternative sources. contrast, other, less flexible, disappear.

Language: Английский

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Deforestation narrows pollen diet diversity of generalist orchid bees

Journal of Insect Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 28(3), P. 561 - 575

Published: April 15, 2024

Abstract Orchid bee species are important pollinators in the Neotropics. While male orchid bees known to have a close interaction with odor-rewarding flowers, females often pollen generalists. In current study, we investigated differences diet diversity of various vegetation types and across sites varying levels forest cover by means an analysis frass pellets bee, Euglossa cordata (Linnaeus, 1758), multiple based on literature review. The grains found inner part brood cells were used assess plant composition making up E. areas state São Paulo Brazil. We that this differed among types, specialization was lower forested areas. Forest appeared be factor mostly associated richness nests . Number per nest also cover. model effect as tested inclusion published data newly generated for annectans This new set allowed understand influence more extensive geographic scale. diversified several species. Implications insect conservation Since offered larva is survival health, our results indicate relying higher resilient population. Such findings emphasize importance forests, especially Neotropical region where many pollinator adapted continuous environments.

Language: Английский

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Direct and indirect effects of land use on microbiomes of trap-nesting solitary bee larvae and nests

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

The global decline in biodiversity and insect populations highlights the urgent need to conserve ecosystem functions, such as plant pollination by solitary bees. Human activities, particularly agricultural intensification, pose significant threats these essential services. Changes land use alter resource nest site availability, pesticide exposure other factors impacting richness, diversity, health of bee species. In this study, we investigated yet another facet currently less well context: Microbial communities associated with wild bees play crucial roles larval development, metabolism, immunity overall health. However, drivers dynamics healthy microbiome are still poorly understood, especially regarding direct indirect effects on diversity composition microbial communities. We examined bacterial offspring materials Megachilid trap-nesting bee, Osmia bicornis, along a gradient intensification 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Given that landscape composition, climatic conditions, food resources known influence compositions species, hypothesized changes would available for material collection thereby affecting microbiomes their environments. anticipated reduced altered increased which is decrease number resources, including pool floral soil bacteria surrounding environment. As expected, observed shifts nests across varying degrees intensity, differing management types availability flowers. Shannon (larval pollen provision, enclosure) guts decreased increasing intensity. pupae remained unaffected, indicating reorganization during metamorphosis, not significantly influenced resources. Our findings provide new insights into shaping environmental transmission microbiomes. This understanding comprehending impacts intensive developing strategies mitigate effects.

Language: Английский

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Origin of floral resources used by two species of native bees in a livestock agroecological system in Colombia

Palynology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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The Distribution of Wild Bee Species Along a Latitudinal Gradient in Northern Europe Depends on Their Flower Preferences

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim The functional diversity of bees contribute to the maintenance plant biodiversity because different species wild prefer and pollinate plants. Many bees, in particular with narrow flower preferences or specialised habitat requirements, are threatened by landscape homogenisation climate change. Nonetheless, we still lack an understanding large‐scale impacts anthropogenic stressors on distribution bee preferences. Location Northern Europe: Norway, Denmark Germany. Methods We combine a dataset comprising ~30,000 observations presences absences occurrences from structured surveys at 269 sites northern Europe investigate if modulate distributions across multiple environmental gradients. Bees were assigned continuous trait separating preference for short vs. tubular flowers. Results observe that either flowers (Fabaceae) plants shallow (including Apiaceae Brassicaceae) can be described score. likelihood observing along latitudinal gradient—encompassing variation temperature, atmospheric N deposition elevation—is dependent its Specifically, have higher occurrence latitudes, while non‐tubular increase towards south. Main Conclusions Our results improve our how species‐specific drives community‐wide shifts therefore help devise region‐specific conservation strategies.

Language: Английский

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Data on the diet and nutrition of urban and rural bumblebees

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Language: Английский

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Unveiling Heterospecific Pollen Deposition in Ranunculus Plants Along a Land‐Use Gradient Through DNA Metabarcoding

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: March 27, 2025

ABSTRACT Animal pollination, the transfer of pollen by animal agents, is essential for plant reproduction. Methods like microscopy and DNA metabarcoding have been used to investigate transport plant–pollinator interactions. metabarcoding, in particular, a reliable method identify origins mixed samples. Although it has mainly study pollinators' dietary patterns, does not provide insights from plant's perspective, such as type viable received. We aimed explore potential analyse heterospecific plants semi‐natural agricultural landscapes along land‐use intensity gradient. collected stigmas three closely related Ranunculus species ( R. acris , bulbosus repens ) 20 grassland plots Germany with varying intensities flowering diversity subjected them internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) metabarcoding. Our results revealed nonlinear relationship between richness on stigmas. The lowest occurred intermediate richness, whereas low or high showed greater diversity. Reduced found mostly LUI plots, forces pollinators visit multiple thus increases transfer. Plots contrary, likely balanced mix resources pollinators, visiting within foraging round decreasing amount pollen. Increased at high‐richness may result competition pollinator‐rich communities. show that powerful tool assessing diversity, revealing heavily influenced community composition. This approach provides novel into pollinator fidelity pollination outcomes across diverse environments.

Language: Английский

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